Dave’s co-manager Benny Scarrs has told Music Week that the rapper’s Mercury victory for debut album Psychodrama was down to “honesty”.
Speaking inside the Eventim Apollo in the wake of the rapper’s win last week (September 19), Scarrs said: “It’s difficult to be that honest as a human, to put your heart on your sleeve like that and be comfortable to put that out into the world.”
Scarrs co-manages Dave with Jack Foster (the pair are pictured together above) through Neighbourhood, and the pair scooped the Manager Of The Year prize at this year’s Music Week Awards.
Dave won after a performance of the album’s opening track Psycho that hushed the room. Idles, Anna Calvi and Slowthai were among the other acts to play. Scarrs said Dave’s song showed the strength of the album, which is in line for a sales boost this week.
“It’s honest. It’s interesting that as a big man I can learn so much from Dave who’s actually closer to my son’s age than he is to me. I just respect that about him,” Scarrs said.
It’s difficult to be that honest as a human and put your heart on your sleeve
Benny Scarrs
Reflecting on what Dave’s win could mean for the industry as a whole, he added: “It’s important to create an environment for people to express themselves without compromise, and that’s what he’s done.”
As for the future, Scarrs said the Prize is unlikely to bring about drastic change for the rapper.
“He will just be the same Dave, that’s what’s incredible about him. I’m sure he’s incredibly grateful and honoured, but he’s the same Dave.”
BPI CEO Geoff Taylor said Dave described Dave as “a very worthy winner”.
“He’s an incredibly talented young man,” said Taylor. “He has a lot to say and people want to listen. He’s really making an impact on the business, he’s making waves and you could tell from the reaction in the room how people feel about it.”
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